All Things Lyme Blog

Growing list of eye problems in Lyme disease

Ophthalmic manifestations of tick-borne diseases are increasing in the United States, according to a review published recently in Current Opinion in Ophthalmology. And, "although ocular involvement can be self-limited, delays in diagnosis may result in vision impairment and even blindness," stated Sathiamoorthi from the Mayo Clinic. [1]

by Daniel J. Cameron, MD MPH

The authors described patients with tick-transmitted diseases presenting with the following ophthalmologic findings:

Follicular conjunctivitis

Periorbital edema and mild photophobia

Bell’s palsy, cranial nerve palsies and Horner syndrome

Argyll Robertson pupil

Keratitis

Optic neuritis, papilledema, papillitis and neuroretinitis

Myositis of extraocular muscles and dacryoadenitis

Episcleritis, anterior and posterior scleritis

Anterior, intermediate, posterior and panuveitis

Retinal vasculitis, cotton wool spots and choroiditis

Retinitis, macular edema and endophthalmitis

The authors point out that optic neuritis, which is often seen in multiple sclerosis, occurs in Lyme disease, as well. Furthermore, they remind readers that although it is rare, uveitis can also be found in Lyme disease (LD). “Findings include vitreitis, retinal vasculitis, cotton wool spots, choroiditis, macular edema and endophthalmitis,” stated Sathiamoorthi. “In several cases, spirochetes were detected in vitreous material.”

Uveitis is an inflammation of the uvea, which is made up of the iris, ciliary body and choroid. Anterior, intermediate and posterior uveitis as well as panuveitis has also been described. [2]

Uveitis can be found with a wide range of acute and chronic presentations. “Patients with anterior uveitis usually complain of pain, redness, blurred vision, and photophobia, watering,” according to Agrawal from the Medical Research Foundation, India. [3] “Most of the patients would have had repeated attacks and would have sought consultation with multiple ophthalmologists and would have used topical and/or systemic medications on and off.”

Ocular complications are infrequent but can be serious. “Complications such as macular edema, chorioretinitis and optic neuropathy may be vision-threatening and require treatment with corticosteroids as long as the recommended antimicrobial regimen has been instituted,” stated Sathiamoorthi.

The true incidence of ocular findings, however, remains unknown. According to Sathiamoorthi, one case of seronegative uveitis was discredited. “At least one of the earlier case reports of Lyme uveitis found spirochetes in vitreous material, yet serological testing was negative for Lyme antibodies.”

The authors conclude the “degree and frequency of ocular signs and symptoms varies widely between the different [tick-borne] diseases. …The opthamologist needs to be alert to the possibility of an infectious cause depending on the patient’s risk factors. The growing number of Lyme disease cases and other tick-borne diseases…should heighten clinical suspicion for tick-borne illness…”

44 Replies to "Growing list of eye problems in Lyme disease"

Dori

11/04/2016 (12:27 am)

What can be done about it??? My lyme came back after a year of remission. First symptom was in eyes…went to my eye Dr who said it was the ” most impressive” follicular conjunctivitis she had ever seen. Treated me with 4 rounds of antibiotic/ steroid eye drops and 2 weeks oral antibiotics. It never resolved and 7 months later sent me to Emory University. I saw the head eye Dr who said it was either chylamedia or lyme and 2 weeks of antibiotics and I would be fine(not)….I am soooo done with Allopathic doctors.
Ps…I have been using the Cowden and Buhner protocols for the last 10 months…still have the eye problems

11/04/2016 (12:46 am)

I am happy to year you have sought different opinions. I am sorry to hear not of the approaches have resolved your eye problems. I hope the article I reviewed and this blog encourage other doctors to study the issues.

08/01/2017 (7:32 am)

Gary Barrett

11/06/2016 (11:46 pm)

I recently developed cataracts that came on quite suddenly. I’ve also been diagnosed with Fughs Syndrome (FS). Do you think FS in any way connected to Lyme or co-infections? I’ve been told that surgery for cataract surgery can be risky for people with FS and make things worse. Any thoughts on this, doctor?

11/07/2016 (12:14 am)

Fuchs’ dystrophy also known as Fuchs’ corneal endothelial dystrophy or FCED, is a slowly progressing corneal dystrophy that usually affects both eyes. I was reviewing the paper to allow me to better understand ocular issues for patients in practice. You would have to ask your eye doctor.

JenniQ

11/07/2016 (3:59 pm)

Hello Dr. Cameron,
In 2006, I developed optic neuritis. I was quickly treated with IV steroids, since my ophthalmologist thought that I had MS. An MRI which was done later showed no lesions, but after the IV steroids, I became covered in rashes, had fever, extreme headaches, slurred speech, forgot words, couldn’t add or subtract, and couldn’t remember what I had just done. I went to more doctors, and all tests came back negative. I searched online for answers and finally concluded that I might have Lyme disease. Doctors told me that was not possible because there was no Lyme disease in eastern WA State (even though I mentioned I had been to Maryland a few months prior.)
I finally found a doctor who agreed Lyme was possible. He ordered a western blot test, and it was positive. (I should probably mention that my husband also tested positive for Lyme disease, but never developed the severe symptoms I had and has never been treated.) I was treated for a year with tindamax and ceftin and my health improved, but the eye with the optic neuritis hemorrhaged and atrophied.
A little over a month ago, I became quite sick with bronchitis, and then some of those old symptoms returned…chills, sluggish speech, forgetfulness, inability to concentrate, staring blankly, headaches, light sensitivity, some double vision, and pain behind my eyes. A recent MRI now shows optic neuritis in the bad eye, although MRIs in 2006 and 2007 did not show optic neuritis in that eye at all. A recent visual field test shows areas of vision loss in my good eye. I am scheduled to see a neurologist in 3 weeks, but am afraid it will just be a repeat of 10 years ago…with doctors seeming more interested in trying to prove it isn’t Lyme disease than in doing anything to try to save my vision.
Do you have any advice for me, or information that I could share with my doctors that might help? In your opinion, what kind of antibiotic treatment is successful in treating neurological complications of Lyme disease? Do you have experience with or knowledge of any medical studies related to late-stage Lyme and vision complications? Thank you so much for your time.

11/07/2016 (8:57 pm)

I was reviewing the paper to better understand ocular issues for my patients. It can be difficult to tell the cause of optic neuritis. They may decide that two episodes of optic neuritis is enough to call it MS. You would have to work with your eye doctor and neurologist. You should also consider consultation with someone who has experience in Lyme disease.

11/10/2016 (2:27 pm)

12/16/2016 (9:36 pm)

My dad has severe inflammatory eye problems. His doctor suggested a cornea transplant. It did not work the first or second time. Last year, while thinking about having a third transplant, he tried IV ozone per Italian research. After fifth treatment one of his eyes exploded with a severe staph infection. He was placed on ABX and after five months it settled down but doctor says he needs another cornea transplant. Too much scar tissue. I would like him to try IV ceftriaxone first – and anti parasite drugs. Is it worth it? Do you glean anything from the results o his IV ozone treatments?
His IgE at the start of this mess was 49,000. I had him take H202 drops (diluted oral) for six weeks and his IgE went down to 600 and he lost 40 pounds all in the belly. He struggles with exczema too. The h202 was one year before the ozone. The h202 helped his belly but not his eyes.

12/17/2016 (1:53 pm)

Sorry to hear hear father is having problems. These two blogs addressed a broad range of eye findings seen in Eyes. Kudos to the author for reviewing what we know and don’t know. Our office does not have an ophthalmology on staff and therefore cannot answer your question.

Deanna

12/18/2016 (6:11 pm)

I have chronic Lyme disease and I have lost all of my peripheral vision in my right eye. After 2 years of eye care professionals all of who told me there wasn’t anything wrong with my eyes I finally found a Lyme literate eye doctor who at least acknowledges that there had been damage to my eyes.

12/18/2016 (10:35 pm)

12/19/2016 (12:21 am)

I found this to be quite helpful. I have Chronic Lyme Disease and was recently diagnosed as having Macula Degeneration. It seems also each year my eyesight changes, now I know why. Thank you so much.
Windy J Cumberbatch
Lyme Disease Advocate

Ketti Parente

12/19/2016 (7:29 pm)

My 7 year old daughter has experienced what we call “visual snow” for 2.5 years. Around her 5th birthday we discovered that she sees static all the time. We are not sure if it suddenly appeared the night she thought millions of bugs were flying around her room, or if she has always had this. Have you ever encountered any Lyme patients that dealt with something similar?

12/25/2016 (6:16 pm)

There are a number of eye disturbances in Lyme disease that do not fall under a specific diagnosis. For example, there are often floaters that can increase in numbers. You should include an ophthalmologist as part of your evaluation.

12/22/2016 (11:20 am)

Hi Dr. Cameron,
Is severe eye dryness a condition you have seen or read about in Lyme patients? Might it be caused by medications taken to treat TBDs? What is your experience? Thank you for talking about ocular manifestations of TBDs.

12/25/2016 (6:14 pm)

Adriana Galindo

04/25/2017 (2:00 am)

I have been diagnosed with acute lyme disease over a year ago. It was discovered when my left eye was hurting like sinus pressure so I went to see an eye doctor, there they diagnosed it as optic neuritis. That doctor admitted me into the hospital for IV steriods. But then referred me to a neuro ophthalmologist that did a Western Blot and found the lyme. Thing is, I feel like a lab rat. I haven’t been able to get off the predisone since being diagnosed over a year ago. I’ve went from 20 mg up to 80 mg when my eye has gotten bad. I haven’t had to be increased on the predisone that high for about 7 months now, which is the longest time in which it hasn’t swollen on me or hemorrhaged. But I feel I’m getting no where on getting off predisone, if we lower it my eye reacts in a negative way and within 2 days I have to increase my predisone back to mg a day. I feel I’m on a merry go round that I can’t get off. Any assistance would be helpful on someone with the similar issue that actually was able to get their eye under control to get off predisone. Or a place within the Dallas, TX area or wherever I need to travel. Houston, any city in the US just to get this controlled and hopefully behind me.

Adriana Galindo

Dr. Daniel Cameron

04/25/2017 (1:00 pm)

Doctors are divided as to whether a persistent infection might underlie common chronic condition. You may find it helpful to be reevaluated for Lyme disease again. I am not familiar with who to see in your area.

Gail Wheeler

05/20/2017 (5:55 pm)

Dr. Cameron, you were the first doctor I saw for lyme after my regular GP. I had lyme twenty years ago and seem to have “recovered” though one never knows. Every member of my family has been infected with lyme or other tick borne illness. Among them, there are a number of eye issues. My husband has Fuchs’ Dystrophy and my grandmother, who at the time of infection was quite elderly, lost her peripheral vision in the space of several weeks and then went totally blind. She died, in my opinion, from lyme complications and was never truly treated. My brother in law, a pilot, has had positive lyme tests and suffers from ocular migraines and terrible eye pain. I believe it is all related to tick borne illness and not being adequately treated. GP’s are saying such things as, “lyme disease is over diagnosed” and “one week of antibiotics should take care of it”! Infection is rampant, yet much of the mainstream the medical community remains in denial. The height of arrogance irresponsibility.

Karen M

07/19/2017 (5:42 pm)

I had early cataracts in both eyes, developed after I got sick with very late stage Lyme and several other TBDs. I read that syphilis is on the differential diagnosis list for cataracts. Shouldn’t Lyme also be on that list? My cataracts started at 51, neither sister has them and my mother’s only began at 70 or so.

Dr. Daniel Cameron

07/20/2017 (5:43 am)

There are many unresolved questions in tick borne illnesses. I have been encouraged by the growing numbers of specialists looking a second time as the link between tick borne illnesses and common diseases.

Ruth F

07/26/2017 (10:47 pm)

I was diagnosed with Lyme in 2014 and was told I most likely was infected several years earlier. My biggest symptom has been brain fog until last year at which point I had what I will call an episode of heat exhaustion which precipitated exacerbation of my symptoms and the immediate onset of visual issues such as floaters, static type vision, light sensitivity, headaches and auras that stay with me every day. Note, prior to this episode I had almost perfect vision. I am now being treated by an LLMD and am 2 months into antibiotic treatment. I would say I have so far experienced a small reduction in my symptoms since starting the treatment. I am also taking several herbals as well. I have been wondering if my symptoms are originating from my eyes or if brain involvement is a contributing factor. I have had an MRI scan and an EEG without any significant findings.

Dr. Daniel Cameron

07/27/2017 (12:58 am)

kalle kolpi

08/02/2017 (2:33 pm)

Please help me!
Can round retinal holes be caused by Lyme-disease?
The ophtalmologist i went to last week said i have round holes (he called them tufts) in the retina in both eyes. He said its a “genetic thing” and doesn’t require laser surgery because its very unlikely a retinal detachment will come from this. But is he able to see if these holes will stay like this or if they progress and get bigger or if i get more holes over time? Also a year before these holes were found i was examined by another ophtalmologist and before that i was examined by several other ophtalmologists and none of them had seen holes in my retina. The ophtalmologist who found the retinal holes said it’s because they weren’t visible back then, they became visible now because i got older. He said they didn’t develop in this one year where i hadn’t seen any ophtalmologists. I went to all these ophtalmologists because for more than 2 years i’ve been suffering from a condition called visual snow and it has been getting worse. I have read online that some people who have lyme-disease also experience visual snow that’s why i thought i might have lyme-disease as well. But my eyes were healthy all this time until recently when they found these holes. Im very afraid that these holes are caused by lyme disease and that they get bigger or that i get more holes. Can anyone help me with this? Does lyme-disease cause retinal holes and can they get bigger or can more holes develop? And would the ophtamologist have seen it, if these holes are caused by other things (such as lyme-disease)?
Thank you for your answeres, i very much appreciate it. (I’m from germany, excuse my english)

Dr. Daniel Cameron

08/02/2017 (11:43 pm)

kalle kolpi

08/04/2017 (9:58 am)

Thank you for your anwer Dr. Cameron! Yes i stll visit doctors, but unfortunately nobody was able to help me so far. But my question is, is it possible that lyme-disease causes retinal holes? Thank you for your replies.

kalle kolpi

08/05/2017 (4:53 pm)

Susan Anderson

08/08/2017 (6:23 am)

My relative has Lyme and has had lots of problems . Her eye Dr just told she has more shots spots on her eyes Started with one now in both eyes. Compared them to cigarette burns. Said they would watch them, is there a treatment for this condition?

Dr. Daniel Cameron

08/08/2017 (11:21 pm)

DIMAS

09/15/2017 (4:01 am)

Hi Dr, Daniel. I went through several specialist who did not know exactly what happened to turn my visa right dark. I did commented to the optometrist and he then suspected it was tick disease. this took in california and was positive result. I’ve heard from him to say that,. the vision will not come back. But I do not give up believing that there will be a solution later. every day I wake up in the hope that I will have my vision back later. i need help, if I can talk about what I can expect. Thank you very much. God bless you all.

09/20/2017 (3:05 pm)

Hi Doctor Daniel, I lost some vision in my left eye, about 30%. I went to the eye doctor and he sent me to a retina specialist. He saw some swelling in my veins going to my retina. He sent me to have a MIR to see if i had a brain tumor or MS. He also sent me for a blood test. My MRI came back negative. My blood work show a false/positive for lyme, but the retina specialist had more testing done on my blood work and it came back positive. My doctors office called and asked if i remember being bit. I said that I had a bite on my stomach, which had the bullseye. She set up a appointment with the ID doctor. I went to him and he asked me why I thought I had Lyme disease. I said, the results are in my blood work. Well his office never received it, after 2 times my doctors office sent it. He went to say that lyme disease can not effect your eyes. Then he proceeded to his cell phone and started to read what lyme disease can cause. He said that there isn’t anything about eyes. I left very angry none tbe less. I called my doctors office about the blood work. They sent it for the 3rd time, and made sure the ID doctors office received it. It’s been over a week and I haven’t heard back from them yet.

12/08/2017 (6:53 am)

Victoria Richardello

01/04/2018 (11:01 pm)

My mom has suffered with eye problems for almost a year. Her doctors here said all tests came back negative; there was nothing wrong, only dry eye. She also constantly complained about being tired and having no energy and really acted depresssed. Well, I finally took her to Boston. There she was diagnosed with uveitis and cornea problems, in both eyes. The retina doctor did numerous blood tests and still could not find out what was causing the inflammation in the back of her eyes. They would not do anything for the corneas until the inflammation had gone down. She was put on prednizone which brought it down substantially. Finally, a lyme test was done and it was found she has lyme disease and has had it for a long time. Can lyme disease cause such severe eye problems and will she get better? She is now on doxyclcline and feels a little better. I’m hoping we can improve her eyesight, too!

Dr. Daniel Cameron

01/10/2018 (1:36 pm)

Uveitis is one of the findings in Lyme disease. I was encouraged to read the review article connecting some eye problems with Lyme disease. It may take more than a simple 3 to 4 week course of antibiotics to resolve the uveitis.

Maria Tinajero

01/31/2018 (1:01 pm)

My Boyfriend got antibiotic treatment to kill the Lyme and now his eyes bulge out when he puts pressure on his head. Can Lyme cause the eyes to bulge out and if so what is the cause? Is it because of the inflammation after the treatment or is it because there’s damage done to the eyes?

Dr. Daniel Cameron

02/01/2018 (12:48 am)

wendy

02/06/2018 (12:54 pm)

I was told over the past 8 years…I may have had Lyme. all sorts of tests …can it cause you to see a tick….i wake up at night and in my vision I see a bug…and it looks like a tick everytime. Doesn’t happen that much….but this week, it happened twice. one doctor said he felt the Lyme went to my brain….a Lyme specialist in Flemington, nj tolsd me since I had been on many antibiotics over the yrs for sinus stuff, the lyme would be gone. how do you rid eyes and brain of Lyme? Too many symptoms to list… unclear vision. eye pain, constant sinus pain, lots of sharo spots off and on ,vwerge of migraine auras, vision moves, ton of floaters, pain all over, feel sick constasntly,
…. but oprhamologist told me eyes are healthy. I did have water behind the eyes after i had my daughter, a preemie in 2007 due to high blood pressure, eclampsia. I digress….can Lyme be cause to all this? thank u

Dr. Daniel Cameron, MD, MPH, is a nationally recognized leader for his expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. For more than 25 years, he has been treating adolescents and adults suffering from Lyme disease.

Introduction

Dr. Daniel Cameron, MD, MPH, is a nationally recognized leader for his expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. For more than 30 years, he has been treating adolescents and adults suffering from Lyme disease.